Backfill: EPA relocated four Town of Niagara families on July 18 after readings up to 900,000 counts per second; families say housing was not ready

On a July 18, 2026 call with EPA and Hochul administration officials, four Town of Niagara households (Hawk/Bradley, Johnson, Linkowski, Motyka) were told they would be relocated the same day after testing found high radioactive contamination; Geiger readings in one backyard measured as high as 900,000 counts per second. The homeowners said EPA then asked them to find their own housing for at least a week, and one family was told moving costs would not be covered. In a statement the families said staffing was inadequate (one DEC and one EPA screener) and called on Governor Hochul and the Trump administration to stand up emergency and State Superfund teams. Published July 20, 2026; backfilled to close a gap between the July 14 Hochul letter and the August coverage.